Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities 2023 - Valentine

Kyle Arganbright is the Executive Vice President and co-founder of Sandhills State Bank, and a co-founder of Bolo Beer Co. brewery.

Arganbright graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he was student body president and a student regent. He returned home to Valentine, Nebraska to launch a local bank, and was elected to the Valentine City Council, currently serving as mayor.

Community Economic Development and Leadership facilitator, coach, and researcher who is passionate about leveraging University and partner resources to help small communities, businesses, and stakeholders achieve their visions.

I was born and raised in Nebraska and have lived in beautiful Valley County since 1997. I fell in love with the area the first time I visited, and my passion for this region has continued to grow.  We live in a unique and supportive community that is full of amazing, hard-working people.  I love meeting new people, as well as connecting with those I’ve known for years. 

I consider it an honor to be part of an organization that is here to assist people and businesses in any way we can.  Whether moving to this community, starting a new business, bringing in resources, or looking to get involved…we are here and ready to help.   

In my opinion, Valley County is the heart of the Good Life, and I believe it is an exceptional best place to call home, raise a family, retire, explore, invest, and grow a business.  The opportunities are endless, the support is outstanding, and I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to help assist Valley County as we continue to grow and expand.  

Caleb Pollard is owner/operator at Scratchtown Brewing Company with his three business partners in Ord, Nebraska. Starting in 2012, and opening their doors in 2013, Scratchtown has been dedicated to a dual purpose: brewing world class beer in rural Nebraska and catalyzing positive change through investment and business activity. Caleb calls this 'positive transformation through fermentation'.

Since 2013, Scratchtown has won numerous accolades and awards for their beer quality, put Ord USA on the map, and built a community mainstay that acts as both a hub for fun and fermentation. With his team, they have demonstrated that world class, small business operations can exist in rural America and make a real difference on the economic trajectory of rural communities.

In July 2022, Caleb began part-time contract work with UNL Extension serving as an entrepreneur and business coach in the Nebraska Sandhills. Caleb served this role in Valley, Cherry and Custer counties. In December of 2023, Caleb accepted the role of Valley County Economic Development Executive Director, a role he held from 2008-2013, when he left to open Scratchtown.

Caleb lives in Ord with his wife of 21 years, Christina, and his youngest son Elijah (16). Caleb's oldest son Calen is a sophomore biosystem engineering major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In his free time, Caleb enjoys gardening and tending to his small orchard, small scale fermentation farming, hunting, fishing, kayaking and long walks on the Calamus beach.

Teliza V. Rodriguez is an arts administrator/curator, artist advocate, entrepreneur, and eCoach for Rural Prosperity Nebraska who has worked in the Midwest arts arena for over 20 years. She has served as the Director of the Haydon Gallery in Lincoln, NE; Curator of the Museum of Nebraska Art, worked with the Nebraska Arts Council, the Lux Center for Art, Hastings College, as well as other academic and non-profit organizations, and is a Fellow for the Center for Great Plains Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In her capacity as eCoach for UNL/RPN she works with entrepreneurs and small businesses in Adams and Hall counties. Rodriguez lives in the tri-city area with her family, is an avid gardener and outdoor-lover. She is dedicated to the preservation of rural communities and finding ways to merge art and all things agrarian to create positive economic impacts. 

Greg Nollette is a fifth generation descendent of the founder of the little town of Nenzel. He and his wife have 4 daughters and 12 grandchildren. He is a retired agricultural education instructor and taught in Cherry County for several years. Greg is co-owner and vintner of Niobrara Valley Vineyards and Winery south of Nenzel, NE. Niobrara Valley Vineyards is a farm winery which grows eleven different varieties of grapes and makes fifteen different wines. The wines are hand crafted from the vine to the glass. Wine is offered for sale in over 50 different retail outlets in the state of NE and through Vino Shipper in 38 states.

Reed Ford is the Vineyard Manager at Niobrara Valley Vineyards. He began as a part-time viticulturist in 2016 and transitioned to full time in 2020. Reed's role consists of care and management of the vineyard, apprenticing as vintner, communications,  customer relations, as well as delivering to retail outlets and stores. In addition, he is responsible for attending wine tasting events across the state, educating future customers about Niobrara Valley Winery products.

Reed graduated from Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD in 2010, with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Education and a passion for ensuring people connect with, learn about and appreciate the environment. This passion began on his parents cattle ranch located south of Cody along the Niobrara River. Reed attended Cody-Kilgore Unified School from K-12 and has deep roots in this rural, agricultural community.

Shannon R. Harner is the Executive Director of the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, also known as NIFA. She has worked in the real estate industry for thirty years in a variety of roles, first as an attorney in private practice, specializing in real estate law and creditors rights. She returned to private practice after a brief sabbatical at a start-up in Hong Kong and moved in-house as general counsel for a subsidiary of HomeServices of America, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, where she specialized in legal issues surrounding mortgage, title, insurance and brokerage operations. In 2013, she transitioned to the business side and served as General Manager and then CEO of HomeServices of Nebraska, prior to taking the helm at NIFA in August of 2020. Shannon is active in her community and serves on several boards and organizations, including the Board and Executive Committee of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, and the Bryan Health System Board and its subsidiary, Bryan Medical Center. She is an honorary Board member and past Board chair of the Nebraska Community Foundation, and has served on the Boards of Nebraska Humanities, TedxLincoln, the Lincoln Arts Council and a variety of other community organizations. Shannon holds a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Shannon and her husband both grew up in Imperial, Nebraska. They have two daughters, a cat, and a couple of chickens. In her spare time, she loves to travel, read, cook, and engage in lively conversation.

Jordan works alongside current and prospective leaders, residents and youth, listening to what they envision and seek to define for the future of their community. She helps communities achieve these goals by assisting them in developing action plans and outcomes based programs, resource identification and community coaching. Her efforts focus upon local leadership development, resident attraction and building welcoming and inclusive communities.

Bob Krier is Hamilton Telecommunications Community Engagement Manager based in Gibbon, Nebraska. Bob began his telecom career in 1998 as an Internet Support Technician with Nebraska Central Telephone Company. After a brief stint with Frontier Communications in Kearney, Bob returned to NCTC as the Marketing and Community Relations Manager. When NCTC was purchased by Hamilton Telecommunications in 2021 he was allowed to focus on working with 20 communities throughout Central Nebraska. As a City Councilman and Chamber Board member, Bob brings his experience of spearheading Gibbon’s ongoing ECAP process in the winter of 2023 to CEC.

Bob lives in Gibbon and is the proud parent of two adult children, Connor and Carmen.

Sindelar grew up about 10 miles southwest of Stuart on a ranch where her parents, Dan and Joan Greger still live. The homestead has been in the Greger family for more than 100 years. She graduated from West Holt High School in Atkinson in 1997 and earned an associate degree in journalism from Northeast Community College in Norfolk in 1999.

She has worked as a copy editor and reporter for the Norfolk Daily News and the Grand Island Independent before becoming the editor of the Coolidge Examiner in Coolidge, AZ. Sindelar moved from Arizona back to her hometown of Atkinson with her two children in 2009. Shortly after that she was hired as the editor of the Holt County Independent in O’Neill.

After nearly 20 years working as a journalist, Sindelar was hired in 2019 as the Atkinson Economic Development Director.

Her family includes her husband, Don Sindelar, co-owner of Green Valley Irrigation in Atkinson, their combined five children and four grandchildren, with number five arriving in June. Sindelar is a member of the Atkinson Community Foundation Fund advisory committee, Atkinson Children and Families Coalition core team, and Atkinson/Holt County C4K.

Laura Kahler is a contractor with South Dakota Specialty Producers Association, and works to help producers connect with each other, and consumers. Through this role, she has been a part of various efforts to support Local Food producers & retailers, including the SD Local Foods Coalition, Farm to School Network, and projects funded through Specialty Crop Block Grants and a NRCS Cooperative Agreement.  

Dr. Lindsay Hastings serves as the Clifton Professor in Mentoring Research and Research Director for NHRI Leadership Mentoring at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.  She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in leadership theory and leadership development, and her research centers around advancing scholar and practitioner knowledge in leadership mentoring, community leadership development, and youth leadership.  Dr. Hastings is a resident of Seward, Nebraska, where she lives with her husband, Matt, and two daughters, Lilly and Anna.

I was born and raised in Nebraska and have lived in beautiful Valley County since 1997. I fell in love with the area the first time I visited, and my passion for this region has continued to grow.  We live in a unique and supportive community that is full of amazing, hard-working people.  I love meeting new people, as well as connecting with those I’ve known for years. 

I consider it an honor to be part of an organization that is here to assist people and businesses in any way we can.  Whether moving to this community, starting a new business, bringing in resources, or looking to get involved…we are here and ready to help.   

In my opinion, Valley County is the heart of the Good Life, and I believe it is an exceptional best place to call home, raise a family, retire, explore, invest, and grow a business.  The opportunities are endless, the support is outstanding, and I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to help assist Valley County as we continue to grow and expand.  

Caleb Pollard is owner/operator at Scratchtown Brewing Company with his three business partners in Ord, Nebraska. Starting in 2012, and opening their doors in 2013, Scratchtown has been dedicated to a dual purpose: brewing world class beer in rural Nebraska and catalyzing positive change through investment and business activity. Caleb calls this 'positive transformation through fermentation'.

Since 2013, Scratchtown has won numerous accolades and awards for their beer quality, put Ord USA on the map, and built a community mainstay that acts as both a hub for fun and fermentation. With his team, they have demonstrated that world class, small business operations can exist in rural America and make a real difference on the economic trajectory of rural communities.

In July 2022, Caleb began part-time contract work with UNL Extension serving as an entrepreneur and business coach in the Nebraska Sandhills. Caleb served this role in Valley, Cherry and Custer counties. In December of 2023, Caleb accepted the role of Valley County Economic Development Executive Director, a role he held from 2008-2013, when he left to open Scratchtown.

Caleb lives in Ord with his wife of 21 years, Christina, and his youngest son Elijah (16). Caleb's oldest son Calen is a sophomore biosystem engineering major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In his free time, Caleb enjoys gardening and tending to his small orchard, small scale fermentation farming, hunting, fishing, kayaking and long walks on the Calamus beach.

Caleb Pollard is owner/operator at Scratchtown Brewing Company with his three business partners in Ord, Nebraska. Starting in 2012, and opening their doors in 2013, Scratchtown has been dedicated to a dual purpose: brewing world class beer in rural Nebraska and catalyzing positive change through investment and business activity. Caleb calls this 'positive transformation through fermentation'.

Since 2013, Scratchtown has won numerous accolades and awards for their beer quality, put Ord USA on the map, and built a community mainstay that acts as both a hub for fun and fermentation. With his team, they have demonstrated that world class, small business operations can exist in rural America and make a real difference on the economic trajectory of rural communities.

In July 2022, Caleb began part-time contract work with UNL Extension serving as an entrepreneur and business coach in the Nebraska Sandhills. Caleb served this role in Valley, Cherry and Custer counties. In December of 2023, Caleb accepted the role of Valley County Economic Development Executive Director, a role he held from 2008-2013, when he left to open Scratchtown.

Caleb lives in Ord with his wife of 21 years, Christina, and his youngest son Elijah (16). Caleb's oldest son Calen is a sophomore biosystem engineering major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In his free time, Caleb enjoys gardening and tending to his small orchard, small scale fermentation farming, hunting, fishing, kayaking and long walks on the Calamus beach.

Sindelar grew up about 10 miles southwest of Stuart on a ranch where her parents, Dan and Joan Greger still live. The homestead has been in the Greger family for more than 100 years. She graduated from West Holt High School in Atkinson in 1997 and earned an associate degree in journalism from Northeast Community College in Norfolk in 1999.

She has worked as a copy editor and reporter for the Norfolk Daily News and the Grand Island Independent before becoming the editor of the Coolidge Examiner in Coolidge, AZ. Sindelar moved from Arizona back to her hometown of Atkinson with her two children in 2009. Shortly after that she was hired as the editor of the Holt County Independent in O’Neill.

After nearly 20 years working as a journalist, Sindelar was hired in 2019 as the Atkinson Economic Development Director.

Her family includes her husband, Don Sindelar, co-owner of Green Valley Irrigation in Atkinson, their combined five children and four grandchildren, with number five arriving in June. Sindelar is a member of the Atkinson Community Foundation Fund advisory committee, Atkinson Children and Families Coalition core team, and Atkinson/Holt County C4K.

A native South Dakotan, Kari O’Neill was born and raised on a farm/ranch west of Faulkton. Her family raised Polled Hereford seed stock and was very active in 4-H.

Kari has a B.S. in Family & Consumer Science and a MEd in Education. She spent ten years as a 4- H/Youth Development educator with the University of MN Extension Service in Pipestone County, where she focused on youth leadership, consumer education, and team building.

Kari has been with South Dakota State University Extension since 2002. At SDSU, she directed the Character Counts! youth project for three years, then became one of the founders of the community development Extension initiative. From 2004 – 2010, she directed the Horizons project, an intensive 2-year leadership development program in forty South Dakota communities. That project received a USDA Innovative Program award, and is still alive in communities today.

Kari is currently the SDSU Extension Community Vitality Program Manager located at Martin, in southwestern South Dakota. She is an alumni of the 2-year SD Ag & Rural Leadership, Class 3. Her main interest areas are leadership, strategic planning and public issues.

Personally, Kari and her husband, Rick, ranch 30 mi. east of Martin, where they raise purebred Angus cattle and crops. She has three grown sons, three daughter-in-laws, and nine grandchildren that she loves to spend time spoiling.

Kyle Arganbright is the Executive Vice President and co-founder of Sandhills State Bank, and a co-founder of Bolo Beer Co. brewery.

Arganbright graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he was student body president and a student regent. He returned home to Valentine, Nebraska to launch a local bank, and was elected to the Valentine City Council, currently serving as mayor.

Katelyn Larson has been with Nebraska Extension for the past 15 years. She has been in this state-wide role as a Rural Prosperity Nebraska Extension Educator for the past two years. This state-wide role focuses on data management and visualization, not only for RPN but all of Nebraska Extension.